Optical recording medium, and optical information device

ABSTRACT

An object of the invention is to provide an optical recording medium and an optical information device that enable to improve the quality of a servo signal and a reproduction signal. In the case where shape-wise thicknesses tr 1 , tr 2 , tr 3 , and tr 4  of a cover layer, a first intermediate layer, a second intermediate layer, and a third intermediate layer are respectively converted into thicknesses t 1 , t 2 , t 3 , and t 4  of the respective corresponding layers each having a predetermined refractive index “no”, a defocus amount with respect to a layer having a refractive index nrα and a thickness trα (satisfying: 1≦α≦n (where α is a positive integer and n is an integer of 4 or more)), and a defocus amount with respect to a layer having the refractive index “no” and a thickness tα (satisfying: 1≦α≦n (where α is a positive integer and n is an integer of 4 or more)) are equal to each other; and the thicknesses t 1 , t 2 , t 3 , and t 4  satisfy |t 1 −(t 2 +t 3 +t 4 )|≧1 μm, a difference between any two values of the thicknesses t 1 , t 2 , t 3 , and t 4  is set to 1 μm or more in any case, and |(t 1 +t 2 )−(t 3 +t 4 )|≧1 μm.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an optical recording medium for information recording or reproducing by irradiated light, and an optical information device for recording or reproducing information with respect to the optical recording medium, and more particularly to an interlayer structure of an optical recording medium having three or more information recording surfaces.

2. Description of the Background Art

There are known optical discs called as DVD or BD (Blu-ray disc), as examples of the commercially available high-density and large-capacity optical information recording media. In recent years, the optical discs have become widely used as recording media for recording images, music, and computer-readable data. There also has been proposed an optical disc having plural recording layers, as disclosed in JP 2001-155380A and JP 2008-117513A, to further increase the recording capacity.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an arrangement of a conventional optical recording medium and optical head device. An optical recording medium 401 includes a first information recording surface 401 a closest to a surface 401 z of the optical recording medium 401, a second information recording surface 401 b second closest to the surface 401 z of the optical recording medium 401, a third information recording surface 401 c third closest to the surface 401 z of the optical recording medium 401, and a fourth information recording surface 401 d farthest from the surface 401 z of the optical recording medium 401.

A divergent beam 70 emitted from a light source 1 is transmitted through a collimator lens 53, and incident into a polarized beam splitter 52. The beam 70 incident into the polarized beam splitter 52 is transmitted through the polarized beam splitter 52, and converted into circularly polarized light while being transmitted through a quarter wavelength plate 54. Thereafter, the beam 70 is converted into a convergent beam through an objective lens 56, transmitted through a transparent substrate of the optical recording medium 401, and collected on one of the first information recording surface 401 a, the second information recording surface 401 b, the third information recording surface 401 c, and the fourth information recording surface 401 d formed in the interior of the optical recording medium 401.

The objective lens 56 is so designed as to make a spherical aberration zero at an intermediate depth position between the first information recording surface 401 a and the fourth information recording surface 401 d. A spherical aberration corrector 93 shifts the position of the collimator lens 53 in an optical axis direction. Thereby, spherical aberration resulting from collecting light on the first through the fourth information recording surfaces 401 a through 401 d is removed.

An aperture 55 restricts the opening of the objective lens 56, and sets the numerical aperture NA of the objective lens 56 to 0.85. The beam 70 reflected on the fourth information recording surface 401 d is transmitted through the objective lens 56 and the quarter wavelength plate 54, converted into linearly polarized light along an optical path displaced by 90 degrees with respect to the outward path, and then reflected on the polarized beam splitter 52. The beam 70 reflected on the polarized beam splitter 52 is converted into convergent light while being transmitted through a light collecting lens 59, and incident into a photodetector 320 through a cylindrical lens 57. Astigmatism is imparted to the beam 70 while the beam 70 is transmitted through the cylindrical lens 57.

The photodetector 320 has unillustrated four light receiving sections. Each of the light receiving sections outputs a current signal depending on a received light amount. A focus error (hereinafter, called as FE) signal by an astigmatism method, a tracking error (hereinafter, called as TE) signal by a push-pull method, and an information (hereinafter called as RF) signal recorded in the optical recording medium 401 are generated, based on the current signals. The FE signal and the TE signal are amplified to an intended level, subjected to phase compensation, and then supplied to actuators 91 and 92, whereby focus control and tracking control are performed.

In this example, the following problem occurs, in the case where the thickness t1 between the surface 401 z of the optical recording medium 401 and the first information recording surface 401 a, the thickness t2 between the first information recording surface 401 a and the second information recording surface 401 b, the thickness t3 between the second information recording surface 401 b and the third information recording surface 401 c, and the thickness t4 between the third information recording surface 401 c and the fourth information recording surface 401 d are equal to each other.

For instance, in the case where the beam 70 is collected on the fourth information recording surface 401 d to record or reproduce information on or from the fourth information recording surface 401 d, a part of the beam 70 is reflected on the third information recording surface 401 c. The distance from the third information recording surface 401 c to the fourth information recording surface 401 d, and the distance from the third information recording surface 401 c to the second information recording surface 401 b are equal to each other. Accordingly, the part of the beam 70 reflected on the third information recording surface 401 c forms an image on a backside of the second information recording surface 401 b, and reflected light from the backside of the second information surface 401 b is reflected on the third information recording surface 401 c. As a result, the light reflected on the third information recording surface 401 c, the backside of the second information recording surface 401 b, and the third information recording surface 401 c may be mixed with reflected light from the fourth information recording surface 401 d to be read.

Further, the distance from the second information recording surface 401 b to the fourth information recording surface 401 d, and the distance from the second information recording surface 401 b to the surface 401 z of the optical recording medium 401 are equal to each other. Accordingly, a part of the beam 70 reflected on the second information recording surface 401 b forms an image on the backside of the surface 401 z of the optical recording medium 401, and reflected light from the backside of the surface 401 z is reflected on the second information recording surface 401 b. As a result, the light reflected on the second information recording surface 401 b, the backside of the surface 401 z, and the second information recording surface 401 b may be mixed with reflected light from the fourth information recording surface 401 d to be read.

As described above, there is a problem that reflected light from the fourth information recording surface 401 d to be read is superimposed and mixed with reflected light which forms an image on the backside of the other surface, with the result that information recording/reproducing is obstructed. Light containing reflected light which forms an image on the backside of the other surface has a high coherence, and forms a brightness/darkness distribution on a light receiving element by coherence. Since the brightness/darkness distribution is varied depending on a change in phase difference with respect to reflected light from the other surface, resulting from a small thickness variation of an intermediate layer in an in-plane direction of an optical disc, the quality of a servo signal and a reproduction signal may be considerably deteriorated. Hereinafter, the above problem is called as a back focus problem in the specification.

In order to prevent the back focus problem, JP 2001-155380A discloses a method, wherein the interlayer distance between the information recording surfaces is gradually increased in the order from the surface 401 z of the optical recording medium 401 so that a part of the beam 70 may not form an image on the backside of the second information recording surface 401 b and the backside of the surface 401 z simultaneously when the beam 70 is collected on the fourth information recording surface 401 d to be read. The thicknesses t1 through t4 each has a production variation of ±10 μm. It is necessary to set the thicknesses t1 through t4 to different values from each other, also in a case where the thicknesses t1 through t4 are varied. In view of this, a difference in the thicknesses t1 through t4 is set to e.g. 20 μm. In this example, the thicknesses t1 through t4 are respectively set to 40 μm, 60 μm, 80 μm, and 100 μm, and the total interlayer thickness t(=t2+t3+t4) from the first information recording surface 401 a to the fourth information recording layer 401 d is set to 240 μm.

In the case where the thickness of a cover layer from the surface 401 z to the first information recording surface 401 a, and the thickness from the fourth information recording surface 401 d to the first information recording surface 401 a are equal to each other, light reflected on the fourth information recording surface 401 d is focused on the surface 401 z, and reflected on the surface 401 z. The light reflected on the surface 401 z is reflected on the fourth information recording surface 401 d, and guided to the photodetector 320. A light flux which forms an image on the backside of the surface 401 z does not have information relating to pits or marks, unlike a light flux which forms an image on the backside of the other information recording surface. However, in the case where the number of information recording surfaces is large, the light amount of light returning from the information recording surfaces is reduced, and the reflectance of the surface 401 z is relatively increased. As a result, coherence between a light flux reflected on the backside of the surface 401 z, and a light flux reflected on a targeted information recording surface to be recorded or reproduced is generated in the similar manner as in the case of a light flux reflected on the backside of the other information recording surfaces, which may considerably deteriorate the quality of a servo signal and a reproduction signal.

In view of the above problem, JP 2008-117513A proposes a distance between information recording layers (information recording surfaces) of an optical disc. JP 2008-117513A discloses the following structure.

An optical recording medium has four information recording surfaces, wherein the first through the fourth information recording surfaces are defined in the order from a side closest to a surface of the optical recording medium. The distance from the medium surface to the first information recording surface is set to 47 μm or less. The thicknesses of intermediate layers between the first through the fourth information recording surfaces are combination of a range from 11 to 15 μm, a range from 16 to 21 μm, and a range of 22 μm or more. The distance from the medium surface to the fourth information recording surface is set to 100 μm. The distance from the medium surface to the first information recording surface is set to 47 μm or less, and the distance from the medium surface to the fourth information recording surface is set to 100 μm.

An optical disc system is adapted to detect light incident from a medium surface and reflected on an information recording surface. Accordingly, a refractive index of a transparent material constituting a transparent member from the medium surface where light is transmitted to the information recording surface also affects the quality of a servo signal and a reproduction signal. However, there is no consideration and description about the refractive index in the disc structures disclosed in JP 2001-155380A and JP 2008-117513A. Thus, both of the publications do not consider an influence of a refractive index of a transparent material to the quality of a servo signal and a reproduction signal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above, an object of the invention is to provide an optical recording medium and an optical information device that enable to improve the quality of a servo signal and a reproduction signal.

An optical recording medium according to an aspect of the invention is an optical recording medium having a plurality of information recording surfaces. The optical recording medium includes: the first information recording surface closest to a medium surface of the optical recording medium where light is incident; the second information recording surface second closest to the medium surface; the third information recording surface third closest to the medium surface; the fourth information recording surface fourth closest to the medium surface; a cover layer having a refractive index nil and formed between the medium surface and the first information recording surface; a first intermediate layer having a refractive index nr2 and formed between the first information recording surface and the second information recording surface; a second intermediate layer having a refractive index nr3 and formed between the second information recording surface and the third information recording surface; and a third intermediate layer having a refractive index nr4 and formed between the third information recording surface and the fourth information recording surface, wherein in the case where shape-wise thicknesses tr1, tr2, tr3, and tr4 of the cover layer, the first intermediate layer, the second intermediate layer, and the third intermediate layer are respectively converted into thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 of the respective corresponding layers each having a predetermined refractive index “no”, a defocus amount with respect to a layer having a refractive index nrα and a thickness trα (satisfying: 1≦α≦n (where α is a positive integer and n is an integer of 4 or more)), and a defocus amount with respect to a layer having the refractive index “no” and a thickness tα (satisfying: 1≦α≦n (where α is a positive integer and n is an integer of 4 or more)) are equal to each other, and the thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 satisfy |t1−(t2+t3+t4)|≧1 μm, a difference between any two values of the thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 is set to 1 μm or more in any case, and |(t1+t2)−(t3+t4)|≧1 μm.

In the above arrangement, in the case where shape-wise thicknesses tr1, tr2, tr3, and tr4 of the cover layer, the first intermediate layer, the second intermediate layer, and the third intermediate layer are respectively converted into thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 of the respective corresponding layers each having a predetermined refractive index “no”, a defocus amount with respect to a layer having a refractive index nrα and a thickness trα (satisfying: 1≦α≦n (where α is a positive integer and n is an integer of 4 or more)), and a defocus amount with respect to a layer having the refractive index “no” and a thickness tα (satisfying: 1≦α≦n (where α is a positive integer and n is an integer of 4 or more)) are equal to each other, and the thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 satisfy |t1−(t2+t3+t4)|≧1 μm, a difference between any two values of the thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 is set to 1 μm or more in any case, and |(t1+t2)−(t3+t4)|≧1 μm.

According to the invention, the thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 obtained by converting the shape-wise thicknesses tr1, tr2, tr3, and tr4 of the cover layer, the first intermediate layer, the second intermediate layer, and the third intermediate layer satisfy |t1−(t2+t3+t4)|≧1 μm, a difference between any two values of the thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 is set to 1 μm or more in any case, and |(t1+t2)−(t3+t4)|≧1 μm. This enables to prevent light from forming an image on the backside of the surface of the optical recording medium, and suppress coherence between reflected light from the information recording surfaces to thereby improve the quality of a servo signal and a reproduction signal. Further, since the distance between the surface of the optical recording medium and the information recording surface closest to the surface of the optical recording medium can be set to a large value, deterioration of a reproduction signal in the case where there is a damage or a smear on the surface of the optical recording medium can be suppressed.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the following detailed description along with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic arrangement of an optical recording medium embodying the invention, and an optical head device.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a layer structure of the optical recording medium in the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing reflected light from a fourth information recording surface, in the case where a beam is collected on the fourth information recording surface.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing reflected light from a third information recording surface and a second information recording surface, in the case where a beam is collected on the fourth information recording surface.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing reflected light from the second information recording surface and a surface of the optical recording medium, in the case where a beam is collected on the fourth information recording surface.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing reflected light from the third information recording surface, a first information recording surface, and the second information recording surface, in the case where a beam is collected on the fourth information recording surface.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a relation between a difference in interlayer thickness, and an amplitude of an FS signal.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a relation between an interlayer thickness of an optical recording medium having information recording surfaces of reflectances substantially equal to each other, and a jitter.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a layer structure of an optical recording medium as a modification of the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a refractive index dependence of a factor for converting a shape-wise thickness in terms of an actual refractive index into a thickness in terms of a standard refractive index.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a refractive index dependence of a factor for converting a thickness in terms of a standard refractive index into a shape-wise thickness in terms of an actual refractive index.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a schematic arrangement of an optical information device embodying the invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an arrangement of a conventional optical recording medium and optical head device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In the following, an embodiment of the invention is described referring to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiment is merely an example embodying the invention, and does not limit the technical scope of the invention.

Firstly, an optical recording medium embodying the invention is described referring to FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic arrangement of an optical recording medium embodying the invention, and an optical head device. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a layer structure of the optical recording medium in the embodiment. An optical head device 201 irradiates blue laser light whose wavelength λ is 405 nm onto an optical recording medium 40 to reproduce a signal recorded in the optical recording medium 40. Since the arrangement and the operation of the optical head device 201 shown in FIG. 1 are substantially the same as the arrangement and the operation of the optical head device shown in FIG. 13, detailed description thereof is omitted herein.

The optical recording medium 40 as an example has four information recording surfaces. As shown in FIG. 2, the optical recording medium 40 has, in the order from a side closest to a surface 40 z of the optical recording medium 40, a first information recording surface 40 a, a second information recording surface 40 b, a third information recording surface 40 c, and a fourth information recording surface 40 d.

The optical recording medium 40 is further provided with a cover layer 42, a first intermediate layer 43, a second intermediate layer 44, and a third intermediate layer 45. The thickness t1 of the cover layer 42 represents a thickness of a substrate from the surface 40 z to the first information recording surface 40 a, the thickness t2 of the first intermediate layer 43 represents a thickness of the substrate from the first information recording surface 40 a to the second information recording surface 40 b, the thickness t3 of the second intermediate layer 44 represents a thickness of the substrate from the second information recording surface 40 b to the third information recording surface 40 c, and the thickness t4 of the third intermediate layer 45 represents a thickness of the substrate from the third information recording surface 40 c to the fourth information recording surface 40 d.

The distance d1 (≈t1) represents a distance from the surface 40 z to the first information recording surface 40 a, the distance d2 (≈t1+t2) represents a distance from the surface 40 z to the second information recording surface 40 b, the distance d3 (≈t1+t2+t3) represents a distance from the surface 40 z to the third information recording surface 40 c, and the distance d4 (≈t1+t2+t3+t4) represents a distance from the surface 40 z to the fourth information recording surface 40 d.

Now, problems to be solved in the case where an optical recording medium has four information recording surfaces are described. Coherence between reflected light from multiple surfaces is described referring to FIGS. 3 through 7, as a first problem to be solved.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing reflected light from the fourth information recording surface 40 d, in the case where a beam is collected on the fourth information recording surface 40 d. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing reflected light from the third information recording surface 40 c and the second information recording surface 40 b, in the case where a beam is collected on the fourth information recording surface 40 d. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing reflected light from the second information recording surface 40 b and the surface 40 z, in the case where a beam is collected on the fourth information recording surface 40 d. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing reflected light from the third information recording surface 40 c, the first information recording surface 40 a, and the second information recording surface 40 b, in the case where a beam is collected on the fourth information recording surface 40 d.

As shown in FIG. 3, a light flux collected on the fourth information recording surface 40 d for information reproducing or recording is split into the following light beams by semi-translucency of an information recording layer (an information recording surface).

Specifically, a light flux collected on the fourth information recording surface 40 d for information reproducing or recording is split into: a beam 70 shown in FIG. 3; a beam 71 (back focus light with respect to an information recording surface) shown in FIG. 4, a beam 72 (back focus light with respect to a medium surface) shown in FIG. 5, and a beam 73 shown in FIG. 6.

As shown in FIG. 3, the beam 70 is a beam reflected on the fourth information recording surface 40 d and emitted from the surface 40 z. As shown in FIG. 4, the beam 71 is a beam reflected on the third information recording surface 40 c, focused and reflected on the backside of the second information recording surface 40 b, reflected on the third information recording surface 40 c, and emitted from the surface 40 z. As shown in FIG. 5, the beam 72 is a beam reflected on the second information recording surface 40 b, focused and reflected on the backside of the surface 40 z, reflected on the second information recording surface 40 b, and emitted from the surface 40 z. As shown in FIG. 6, the beam 73 is a beam which is not focused on the surface 40 z and the backsides of the information recording surfaces, but is reflected in the order of the third information recording surface 40 c, the backside of the first information recording surface 40 a, and the second information recording surface 40 b, and emitted from the surface 40 z.

First, let us consider a case that the refractive indexes of the cover layer 42, the first intermediate layer 43, the second intermediate layer 44, and the third intermediate layer 45 are equal to each other. In this case, the refractive indexes of the respective corresponding layers are set to “no”.

For instance, in the case where the distance (thickness t4) between the fourth information recording surface 40 d and the third information recording surface 40 c, and the distance (thickness t3) between the third information recording surface 40 c and the second information recording surface 40 b are equal to each other, the beam 70 and the beam 71 pass a common optical path when exiting from the surface 40 z. Accordingly, the beam 70 and the beam 71 are incident into a photodetector 320 with an identical light flux diameter. Similarly, in the case where the distance (thickness t4+thickness t3) between the fourth information recording surface 40 d and the second information recording surface 40 b, and the distance (thickness t2+thickness t1) between the second information recording surface 40 b and the surface 40 z are equal to each other, the beam 70 and the beam 72 pass a common optical path when exiting from the surface 40 z. Accordingly, the beam 70 and the beam 72 are incident into the photodetector 320 with an identical light flux diameter. In the case where the distance (thickness t2) between the second information recording surface 40 b and the first information recording surface 40 a, and the distance (thickness t4) between the fourth information recording surface 40 d and the third information recording surface 40 c are equal to each other, the beam 70 and the beam 73 pass a common optical path when exiting from the surface 40 z. Accordingly, the beam 70 and the beam 73 are incident into the photodetector 320 with an identical light flux diameter.

The light intensities of the beams 71 through 73 as reflected light from multiple surfaces are small, as compared with the light intensity of the beam 70. However, coherent contrast does not depend on a light intensity but depends on a light intensity ratio of light amplitude, and the light amplitude is a square root of the light intensity. Accordingly, even a small difference between light intensities results in a large coherent contrast. In the case where the beams 70 through 73 are incident into the photodetector 320 with an identical light flux diameter, an influence by coherence between the beams is large. Further, a light receiving amount by the photodetector 320 is greatly varied, resulting from a small change in thickness between the information recording surfaces, which makes it difficult to stably detect a signal.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a relation between a difference in interlayer thickness, and an amplitude of an FS signal. FIG. 7 shows an amplitude of an FS signal (a sum of light intensities) with respect to a difference in interlayer thickness, in the case where the light intensity ratio between the beam 70; and the beam 71, the beam 72, or the beam 73 is set to 100:1, and the refractive indexes of the cover layer 42 and the first intermediate layer 43 are each set to about 1.60 (1.57). Referring to FIG. 7, the axis of abscissas indicates a difference in interlayer thickness, and the axis of ordinate indicates an amplitude of an FS signal. The FS signal amplitude is a value obtained by normalizing light solely composed of the beam 70 to be detected by the photodetector 320 by a DC light amount, assuming that there is no reflection from the other information recording surfaces. In this embodiment, an interlayer means a layer between a surface of the optical recording medium and an information recording surface, and a layer between information recording surfaces adjacent to each other. As shown in FIG. 7, it is obvious that the FS signal is sharply changed when the difference in interlayer thickness becomes about 1 μm or less.

Similarly to the beam 72 shown in FIG. 5, in the case where the difference between the thickness t1 of the cover layer 42, and the sum (t2+t3+t4) of the thicknesses of the first through the third intermediate layers 43 through 45 is 1 μm or less, a problem such as variation of the FS signal also occurs.

As a second problem to be solved, an exceedingly small interlayer distance between adjacent information recording surfaces causes an influence of crosstalk from the adjacent information recording surface. In view of this, an interlayer distance of a predetermined value or more is necessary. Accordingly, various interlayer thicknesses are investigated, and an interlayer thickness which minimizes the influence is determined.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a relation between an interlayer thickness of an optical recording medium having information recording surfaces of reflectances substantially equal to each other, and a jitter. The refractive index of the intermediate layer is set to about 1.60. Referring to FIG. 8, the axis of abscissas indicates an interlayer thickness, and the axis of ordinate indicates a jitter value. As the interlayer thickness is reduced, the jitter is deteriorated. The interlayer thickness where the jitter starts increasing is about 10 μm, and in the case where the interlayer thickness becomes 10 μm or less, the jitter is seriously deteriorated. Therefore, an optimum minimum value of the interlayer thickness is 10 μm.

Referring to FIG. 2, an arrangement of the optical recording medium 40 in the embodiment of the invention is described. In the embodiment, the structure of a four-layer disc (the optical recording medium 40) is defined in such a manner as to secure the following conditions (1) through (3) in order to eliminate an adverse effect of reflected light from the other information recording surfaces or a disc surface, considering a thickness variation among products.

Condition (1): The difference between the thickness t1 of the cover layer 42, and the sum (t2+t3+t4) of the thicknesses t2 through t4 of the first through the third intermediate layers 43 through 45 is set to 1 μm or more. In other words, the thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 satisfy |t1−(t2+t3−+t4)|≧1 μm.

Condition (2): The difference between any two values of the thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 is set to 1 μm or more in any case.

Condition (3): The difference between the sum (t1+t2) of the thickness t1 of the cover layer 42 and the thickness t2 of the first intermediate layer 43, and the sum (t3+t4) of the thickness t3 of the second intermediate layer 44 and the thickness t4 of the third intermediate layer 45 is set to 1 μm or more. In other words, the thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 satisfy |(t1+t2)−(t3+t4)|≧1 μm.

There are other combinations of interlayer thicknesses. However, in the case where the thickness t1 of the cover layer is set to a value approximate to the sum (t2+t3+t4) of the thicknesses t2 through t4 of the first through the third intermediate layers 43 through 45, there is no need of considering the other combinations. Therefore, description on the other combinations is omitted herein.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a layer structure of an optical recording medium as a modification of the embodiment of the invention. An optical recording medium 30 shown in FIG. 9 has three information recording surfaces. As shown in FIG. 9, the optical recording medium 30 has, in the order from a side closest to a surface 30 z of the optical recording medium 30, a first information recording surface 30 a, a second information recording surface 30 b, and a third information recording surface 30 c. The optical recording medium 30 is further provided with a cover layer 32, a first intermediate layer 33, and a second intermediate layer 34.

The thickness t1 of the cover layer 32 represents a thickness of a substrate from the surface 30 z to the first information recording surface 30 a, the thickness t2 of the first intermediate layer 33 represents a thickness of the substrate from the first information recording surface 30 a to the second information recording surface 30 b, and the thickness t3 of the second intermediate layer 34 represents a thickness of the substrate from the second information recording surface 30 b to the third information recording surface 30 c.

The distance d1 (t1) represents a distance from the surface 30 z to the first information recording surface 30 a, the distance d2 (≈t1+t2) represents a distance from the surface 30 z to the second information recording surface 30 b, and the distance d3 (≈t1+t2+t3) represents a distance from the surface 30 z to the third information recording surface 30 c.

In the foregoing description, the structure of the four-layer disc is concretely described. In the case where a three-layer disc as shown in FIG. 9 is produced, the structure of the three-layer disc (the optical recording medium 30) is defined in such a manner as to secure the following conditions (1) and (2).

Condition (1): The difference between the thickness t1 of the cover layer 32, and the sum (t2+t3) of the thicknesses t2 and t3 of the first intermediate layer 33 and the second intermediate layer 34 is set to 1 μm or more. In other words, the optical recording medium 30 satisfies |t1−(t2+t3)|≧1 μm.

Condition (2): The difference between any two values of the thicknesses t1, t2, and t3 is set to 1 μm or more in any case.

Concerning a (N−1)-layer disc (where n is a positive integer equal to or more than 4), the above condition generally means that a difference between the sum of the thickness “ti” through the thickness “tj”, and the sum of the thickness “tk” through the thickness “tm” is necessarily set to 1 μm or more, assuming that t1 is a thickness of the cover layer, and t2 through tN are thicknesses of the first through the N-th intermediate layers, where i, j, k, and m are each an arbitrary positive integer, and i≦j<k≦m≦N. The cover layer thickness corresponds to a distance from the surface of the optical recording medium to the information recording surface closest to the medium surface. The above description is applied to the description that a distance from the surface of the optical recording medium to the information recording surface second closest to the medium surface is defined as d2, a distance from the surface of the optical recording medium to the information recording surface third closest to the medium surface is defined as d3, and a distance from the surface of the optical recording medium to the information recording surface fourth closest to the medium surface is defined as d4 in the same manner as described above.

Further, all the intermediate layer thicknesses are each set to 10 μm or more to solve the second problem.

The foregoing description has been made based on the premise that the refractive indexes of the cover layer and the intermediate layers are equal to the standard value, and all the refractive indexes of the cover layer and the intermediate layers are equal to each other. In the following, described is a case that the refractive indexes of the cover layer and the intermediate layers are different from the standard value, or the refractive indexes of the cover layer and the intermediate layers are different from each other among the layers.

The back focus problem as the first problem occurs because the size and the shape are similar to each other between signal light, and reflected light from the other information recording surface on the photodetector 320. In the case where the refractive index is set to about 1.60, it is possible to avoid the back focus problem, as far as a difference between the focus position of signal light, and the focus position of reflected light from the other information recording surface is smaller than 1 μm in the optical axis direction on the side of the optical recording medium. When the refractive index is set to about 1.60, crosstalk resulting from an adjacent information recording surface, as the second problem, occurs in the case where a defocus amount of signal light is smaller than 10 μm on an adjacent track.

In both of the cases, a defocus amount is an important factor to be considered. The defocus amount corresponds to the size of reflected light from the other information recording surface, or the size of a virtual image of reflected light from the other information recording surface at a position where signal light is focused. Let it be assumed that the radius of reflected light from the other information recording surface, or the radius of a virtual image of reflected light from the other information recording surface is RD. Since reflected light from the other information recording surface whose radius is RD is projected onto the photodetector 320, coherence and the magnitude of crosstalk depend on the size of the reflected light. The size of the reflected light may be defined as a divergent amount of light resulting from an interlayer thickness. We found that in order to avoid the back focus problem and the crosstalk problem in the case where the refractive index is set to a value other than 1.60, it is necessary to define a condition that makes a defocus amount i.e. the size of reflected light from the other information recording surface or the size of a virtual image of reflected light from the other information recording surface substantially equal to each other. The above technique may be defined as a technique of converting an interlayer thickness, referring to a divergent amount of light resulting from an interlayer thickness.

A condition that makes a defocus (the size of reflected light from the other information recording surface, or the size of a virtual image of reflected light from the other information recording surface) with respect to a layer having a refractive index “nr” different from a standard refractive index “no” and a shape-wise thickness “dr” equal to a defocus with respect to a layer having the standard refractive index “no” and a shape-wise thickness “do” is expressed by the following equations (1) and (2).

NA=nr·sin(θr)=no·sin(θo)  (1)

RD=dr·tan(θr)=do·tan(θo)  (2)

In the equations, NA represents a numerical aperture of an objective lens 56 for converging light onto an optical recording medium. For instance, NA=0.85. The symbols θr and θo respectively represent convergence angles of light in materials having the refractive index “nr” and the refractive index “no”. The symbol RD represents a radius of reflected light from the other information recording surface, or a radius of a virtual image of reflected light from the other information recording surface. The symbols “sin” and “tan” respectively represent a sine function and a tangent function. The standard refractive index “no” is set to e.g. 1.60, and more preferably set to 1.57.

The convergence angle θr is expressed by the following equation (3), and the convergence angle θo is expressed by the following equation (4), based on the equation (1).

θr=arcsin(NA/nr)  (3)

θo=arcsin(NA/no)  (4)

In the equations, arcsin represents an inverse sine function.

The thickness “do” is expressed by the following equation (5), and the thickness “dr” is expressed by the following equation (6), based on the equation (2).

do=dr·tan(θr)/tan(θo)  (5)

dr=do·tan(θo)/tan(θr)  (6)

The thickness “do” is calculated using the equation (5) to derive the thickness of a layer having the refractive index “no” with respect to the shape-wise thickness “dr” of a layer having the refractive index “nr”.

Conversely, the thickness “dr” is calculated using the equation (6) to derive the shape-wise thickness “dr” of a layer having the refractive index “nr” with respect to the thickness “do” of a layer having the refractive index “no”.

The factor portion in the equation (5) i.e. tan(θr)/tan(θo) is expressed as a function of the refractive index “nr” in FIG. 10. The factor portion in the equation (6) i.e. tan(θo)/tan(θr) is expressed as a function of the refractive index “nr” in FIG. 11.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a refractive index dependence of a factor for converting a shape-wise thickness in terms of an actual refractive index into a thickness in terms of a standard refractive index. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a refractive index dependence of a factor for converting a thickness in terms of a standard refractive index into a shape-wise thickness in terms of an actual refractive index.

As an example, there is described a relation between the thickness t1 of the cover layer, and the sum of the thicknesses t2 through t4 of the first through the third intermediate layers of the four-layer disc (the optical recording medium 40). Let us consider a case that all the refractive indexes of the layers are set to a standard refractive index “no” i.e. set to 1.60, the thickness t1 of the cover layer is set to 54 μm, the thickness t2 of the first intermediate layer is set to 10 μm, the thickness t3 of the second intermediate layer is set to 21 μm, and the thickness t4 of the third intermediate layer is set to 19 μm. The sum of the thickness t2 of the first intermediate layer through the thickness t4 of the third intermediate layer becomes 50 μm. In this case, the difference between the thickness t1 of the cover layer, and the sum of the thicknesses t2 through t4 of the first through the third intermediate layers is 4 μm, which is significantly larger than 1 μm.

If, however, the refractive index “nr” of the cover layer is set to 1.70, a different result is obtained, even if the shape-wise thickness tr1 of the cover layer remains the same i.e. set to 54 μm. It is obvious, from the equations (3) and (5) or from FIG. 10, that the thickness tr1 of a layer having the refractive index “nr” is converted into the thickness t1 of a layer having the standard refractive index “no” by multiplying the thickness tr1 by 0.921. As a result, the thickness t1 of the layer having the refractive index “no” is set to: t1=0.921×tr1=49.7 μm, which is smaller than 50 μm i.e. the sum of the thicknesses t2 through t4 of the first through the third intermediate layers.

Conversely, it is obvious from the equations (4) and (6) or from FIG. 11 that a difference between the thickness tr1 of the cover layer, and the sum of the thicknesses t2 through t4 of the first through the third intermediate layers is set to 1 μm or more, and the thickness tr1 of the cover layer is set to 51 μm or more by multiplying the thickness t1 of a layer having the refractive index “no” by 1.086. In other words, the thickness tr1 of the layer having the refractive index “nr” is set to: tr1=51×1.086≈55.4 μm. Accordingly, it is necessary to set the shape-wise thickness tr1 of the cover layer to 55.4 μm or more, in the case where the refractive index “nr” is set to 1.70. The above example is merely an example, and the invention may embrace a value parameter other than the above.

It is also necessary to satisfy a specific condition about the thickness of the cover layer and the thicknesses of the intermediate layers from another aspect. It is desirable to set the cover layer thickness and the intermediate layer thicknesses in a predetermined range including a standard value to perform a stable focus jumping operation. A focus jumping operation is an operation of changing a focus position from a certain information recording surface to another information recording surface. In performing a focus jumping operation, it is desirable to secure a focus error signal of good quality with respect to a targeted information recording surface by e.g. moving a collimator lens 53 prior to a focus jumping operation to stably obtain a focus error signal with respect to the targeted information recording surface. In view of this, it is desirable to set a difference in spherical aberration between information recording surfaces in a predetermined range.

If the refractive index is changed, the spherical aberration amount is changed, even if the thickness is unchanged. Accordingly, it is desirable to set a targeted value or an allowable range of an intermediate layer thickness in such a manner that the spherical aberration amount falls in a predetermined range.

Further, in the case where the refractive index of a predetermined layer (the cover layer or the intermediate layer) is nr(min)≦nr≦nr(max), in the aspect of avoiding the back focus problem and the crosstalk problem, the thickness “dr” of a layer having the refractive index “nr” is converted into a thickness corresponding to the thickness of the intermediate layer having the standard refractive index “no” by implementing the equations: θr(min)=arcsin(NA/nr(min)) and θr(max)=arcsin(NA/nr(max)), and using the equation: do=dr·tan(θr)/tan(θo) in the similar manner as described above; and judgment is made as to whether the obtained thickness is proper.

The optical recording medium in the embodiment is not limited to one of a rewritable disc, a recordable disc, and a read only disc, but may be any of these discs.

Signal fluctuation and signal quality deterioration resulting from the back focus problem occur, in the case where the sizes or the shapes are the same with each other between signal light, and reflected light from the other information recording surface on the photodetector. A state that the sizes or the shapes are the same with each other between signal light, and reflected light from the other information recording surface on the photodetector means a state that focus positions appear to be the same with each other between signal light, and reflected light from the other information recording surface, including a virtual image of reflected light from the other information recording surface. Optical paths of signal light and reflected light from the other information recording surface are partly different from each other on an optical path in a transparent substrate of an optical disc. In the case where defocus amounts resulting from a difference in optical path are equal to each other, the focus position of signal light, and the focus position of reflected light from the other information recording surface appear to be the same with each other. In the case where divergences of convergent light i.e. the radii of convergent light are the same with each other between signal light, and reflected light from the other information recording surface, it is judged that defocus amounts resulting from a substrate thickness are equal to each other.

In view of the above, calculation based on the divergent radius R of a light spot resulting from a substrate thickness is made in order to judge whether the back focus problem can be avoided by setting the shape-wise thickness “dr” in terms of the refractive index “nr”. In this example, the shape-wise thickness indicates a material thickness, and may also be called as a physical thickness.

An interlayer coherence resulting from a reduced intermediate layer thickness can be avoided, if the spot configuration (the radius R) on an adjacent layer is sufficiently large. In view of this, calculation based on the divergent radius R of a light spot resulting from a substrate thickness is made in order to judge whether the interlayer coherence can be avoided by setting the shape-wise thickness “dr” of a layer having the refractive index “nr”.

Assuming that the thickness of a cover layer or an intermediate layer is “t”, the numerical aperture of a light spot is NA (NA=0.85), and the convergence angle of light in a substrate is θ, since NA=n·sin(θ), θ=arcsin(NA/n). In this equation, “arcsin” represents an inverse sine function. The divergent radius R of a light spot can be calculated by R=t·tan(θ).

The standard refractive index is defined as “no”, the thickness of a layer having the standard refractive index “no” is defined as “to”, and the convergence angle of light in a substrate of the layer is defined as “θo”. The standard refractive index “no” is set to e.g. 1.60. The layer (targeted layer) constituting a thickness portion of a transparent substrate of an actual optical disc is indicated with the suffix “r”, the refractive index of the targeted layer is defined as “nr”, the shape-wise thickness of the targeted layer is defined as “tr”, and the convergence angle of light in a substrate of the targeted layer is defined as “θr”. In this case, the convergence angles θo and θr are respectively expressed by: θo=arcsin(NA/no) and θr=arcsin(NA/nr).

The divergent radius R of a light spot is expressed by: R=tr·tan(θr)=to·tan(θo). Accordingly, the thickness “to” of a layer having the standard refractive index “no” is expressed by: to=tr·tan(θr)/tan(θo))=tr·f(nr).

The function f(nr) is a factor for deriving the thickness “to” of a layer having the standard refractive index “no” with respect to the shape-wise thickness “tr”, and is the function shown in the graph of FIG. 10.

For instance, let us consider a four-layer disc having four layers of information recording surfaces. The four-layer disc (the optical recording medium 40) has, in the order from the surface (a light incident surface) 40 z of the disc, the first information recording surface 40 a, the second information recording surface 40 b, the third information recording surface 40 c, and the fourth information recording surface 40 d. The four-layer disc is further provided with the cover layer 42 between the light incident surface 40 z and the first information recording surface 40 a, the first intermediate layer 43 between the first information recording surface 40 a and the second information recording surface 40 b, the second intermediate layer 44 between the second information recording surface 40 b and the third information recording surface 40 c, and the third intermediate layer 45 between the third information recording surface 40 c and the fourth information recording surface 40 d.

Let it be assumed that the shape-wise thickness of the cover layer 42 is tr1, and the actual refractive index of the cover layer 42 is nr1; the shape-wise thickness of the first intermediate layer 43 is tr2, and the actual refractive index of the first intermediate layer 43 is nr2; the shape-wise thickness of the second intermediate layer 44 is tr3, and the actual refractive index of the second intermediate layer 44 is nr3; and the shape-wise thickness of the third intermediate layer 45 is tr4, and the actual refractive index of the third intermediate layer 45 is nr4.

Converting the thicknesses tr1, tr2, tr3, and tr4 of the cover layer 42 and the first through the third intermediate layers 43 through 45 respectively into the thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 of the cover layer 42 and the first through the third intermediate layers 43 through 45 each having the standard refractive index “no”, based on a defocus amount, yields a result: t1=tr1×f(nr1), t2=tr2×f(nr2), t3=tr3×f(nr3), and t4=tr4×f(nr4).

Normally, the thickness of the cover layer is larger than the thickness of the intermediate layer. In view of this, the four-layer disc should satisfy all the conditions: |t1−(t2+t3+t4)|≧1 μm, |t2−t3|≧1 μm, |t3−t4)|≧1 μm, and |t2−t4|≧1 μm to avoid the back focus problem.

Further, the four-layer disc should satisfy all the conditions: t2≧10 μm, t3≧10 μm, and t4≧10 μm to avoid the interlayer coherence. In other words, the thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 of the cover layer 42, the first intermediate layer 43, the second intermediate layer 44, and the third intermediate layer 45 are each set to 10 μm or more.

As described above, the optical recording medium 40 includes the first information recording surface 40 a closest to the light incident surface 40 z of the optical recording medium 40, the second information recording surface 40 b second closest to the surface 40 z, the third information recording surface 40 c third closest to the surface 40 z, the fourth information recording surface 40 d fourth closest to the surface 40 z, the cover layer 42 having the refractive index nr1 and formed between the surface 40 z and the first information recording surface 40 a, the first intermediate layer 43 having the refractive index nr2 and formed between the first information recording surface 40 a and the second information recording surface 40 b, the second intermediate layer 44 having the refractive index nr3 and formed between the second information recording surface 40 b and the third information recording surface 40 c, and the third intermediate layer 45 having the refractive index nr4 and formed between the third information recording surface 40 c and the fourth information recording surface 40 d.

Further, in the case where the shape-wise thicknesses tr1, tr2, tr3, and tr4 of the cover layer 42, the first intermediate layer 43, the second intermediate layer 44, and the third intermediate layer 45 are respectively converted into the thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 of the respective corresponding layers each having the predetermined refractive index “no”, the defocus amount with respect to a layer having the refractive index nrα and the thickness trot (satisfying: 1≦α≦n (where α is a positive integer and n is an integer of 4 or more)) is equal to the defocus amount with respect to a layer having the refractive index “no” and the thickness tα (satisfying: 1≦α≦n (where α is a positive integer and n is an integer of 4 or more)); and the thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 satisfy |t1−(t2+t3+t4)|≧1 μm, a difference between any two values of the thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 is set to 1 μm or more in any case, and |(t1+t2)−(t3+t4)|≧1 μm.

Thus, the thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 obtained by converting the shape-wise thickness tr1, tr2, tr3, and tr4 of the cover layer 42, the first intermediate layer 43, the second intermediate layer 44, and the third intermediate layer 45 satisfy |t1−(t2+t3+t4)|≧1 μm, a difference between any two values of the thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 is set to 1 μm or more in any case, and |(t1+t2)−(t3+t4)|≧1 μm. This enables to prevent light from forming an image on the backside of the surface of the optical recording medium, and suppress coherence between reflected light from the information recording surfaces to thereby improve the quality of a servo signal and a reproduction signal.

Further, since the distance between the surface of the optical recording medium and the information recording surface closest to the surface of the optical recording medium can be set to a large value, deterioration of a reproduction signal in the case where there is a damage or a smear on the surface of the optical recording medium can be suppressed.

Further, assuming that the shape-wise thicknesses tr1, tr2, tr3, and tr4 of the cover layer 42, the first intermediate layer 43, the second intermediate layer 44, and the third intermediate layer 45 are respectively converted into the thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 of the respective corresponding layers each having the predetermined refractive index “no”, the thickness of a layer having the refractive index nrα is set to trα (satisfying: 1≦α≦n (where α is a positive integer and n is an integer of 4 or more)), the convergence angle of light in the layer having the refractive index nrα is set to θrα (satisfying: 1≦α≦n (where α is a positive integer and n is an integer of 4 or more)), the thickness of a layer having the refractive index “no” is set to tα (satisfying: 1≦α≦n (where α is a positive integer and n is an integer of 4 or more)), and the convergence angle of light in the layer having the refractive index “no” is set to θo, if the thickness trα is converted into the thickness tα based on the following equation, the thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 satisfy |t1−(t2+t3+t4)|≧1 μm, a difference between any two values of the thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 is set to 1 μm or more in any case, and |(t1+t2)−(t3+t4)|≧1 μm.

tα=trα·(tan(θrα)/tan(θo))

In the case where the range of the thickness tα of a layer having the refractive index “no” and whose spherical aberration amount falls in a predetermined allowable range is converted into a range of the thickness trα of a layer having the refractive index nrα, preferably, the thickness trα may be included in the range of the thickness trα after conversion.

As another example, let us consider a case that a three-layer disc having three recording layers is produced. A three-layer disc (the optical recording medium 30) has, in the order from the surface (a light incident surface) 30 z of the disc, the first information recording surface 30 a, the second information recording surface 30 b, and the third information recording surface 30 c. The three-layer disc is further provided with the cover layer 32 between the light incident surface 30 z and the first information recording surface 30 a, the first intermediate layer 33 between the first information recording surface 30 a and the second information recording surface 30 b, and the second intermediate layer 34 between the second information recording surface 30 b and the third information recording surface 30 c.

Let it be assumed that the shape-wise thickness of the cover layer 32 is tr1, and the actual refractive index of the cover layer 32 is nr1; the shape-wise thickness of the first intermediate layer 33 is tr2, and the actual refractive index of the first intermediate layer 33 is nr2; and the shape-wise thickness of the second intermediate layer 34 is tr3, and the actual refractive index of the second intermediate layer 34 is nr3.

Converting the thicknesses tr1, tr2, and tr3 of the cover layer 32, the first intermediate layer 33, and the second intermediate layer 34 respectively into the thicknesses t1, t2, and t3 of the cover layer 32, the first intermediate layer 33, and the second intermediate layer 34 each having the standard refractive index “no”, based on a defocus amount, yields a result: t1=tr1×f(nr1), t2=tr2×f(nr2), and t3=tr3×f(nr3).

Normally, the thickness of the cover layer is larger than the thickness of the intermediate layer. In view of this, the three-layer disc should satisfy all the conditions: |t1−(t2+t3)|≧1 μm, and |t2−t3|≧1 μm to avoid the back focus problem.

Further, the three-layer disc should satisfy all the conditions: t2≧10 μm, and t3≧10 μm to avoid the interlayer coherence. In other words, the thicknesses t1, t2, and t3 of the cover layer 32, the first intermediate layer 33, and the second intermediate layer 34 are each set to 10 μm or more.

As described above, the optical recording medium 30 includes the first information recording surface 30 a closest to the light incident surface 30 z of the optical recording medium 30, the second information recording surface 30 b second closest to the surface 30 z, the third information recording surface 30 c third closest to the surface 30 z, the cover layer 32 having the refractive index nr1 and formed between the surface 30 z and the first information recording surface 30 a, the first intermediate layer 33 having the refractive index nr2 and formed between the first information recording surface 30 a and the second information recording surface 30 b, and the second intermediate layer 34 having the refractive index nr3 and formed between the second information recording surface 30 b and the third information recording surface 30 c.

Further, in the case where the shape-wise thicknesses tr1, tr2, and tr3 of the cover layer 32, the first intermediate layer 33, and the second intermediate layer 34 are respectively converted into the thicknesses t1, t2, and t3 of the respective corresponding layers each having the predetermined refractive index “no”, the defocus amount with respect to a layer having the refractive index nrα and the thickness trα (satisfying: 1≦α≦n (where α is a positive integer and n is an integer of 4 or more)) is equal to the defocus amount with respect to a layer having the refractive index “no” and the thickness tα (satisfying: 1≦α≦n (where α is a positive integer and n is an integer of 4 or more)); and the thicknesses t1, t2, and t3 satisfy |t1−(t2+t3)|≧1 μm, and a difference between any two values of the thicknesses t1, t2, and t3 is set to 1 μm or more in any case.

Thus, the thicknesses t1, t2, and t3 obtained by converting the shape-wise thickness tr1, tr2, and tr3 of the cover layer 32, the first intermediate layer 33, and the second intermediate layer 34 satisfy |t1−(t2+t3)|≧1 μm, and a difference between any two values of the thicknesses t1, t2, and t3 is set to 1 μm or more in any case. This enables to prevent light from forming an image on the backside of the surface of the optical recording medium, and suppress coherence between reflected light from the information recording surfaces to thereby improve the quality of a servo signal and a reproduction signal.

Further, since the distance between the surface of the optical recording medium and the information recording surface closest to the surface of the optical recording medium can be set to a large value, deterioration of a reproduction signal in the case where there is a damage or a smear on the surface of the optical recording medium can be suppressed.

Further, assuming that the shape-wise thicknesses tr1, tr2, and tr3 of the cover layer 32, the first intermediate layer 33, and the second intermediate layer 34 are respectively converted into the thicknesses t1, t2, and t3 of the respective corresponding layers each having the predetermined refractive index “no”, the thickness of a layer having the refractive index nrα is set to trα (satisfying: 1≦α≦n (where α is a positive integer and n is an integer of 3 or more)), the convergence angle of light in the layer having the refractive index nrα is set to θra (satisfying: 1≦α≦n (where α is a positive integer and n is an integer of 3 or more)); the thickness of a layer having the refractive index “no” is set to tα (satisfying: 1≦α≦n (where α is a positive integer and n is an integer of 3 or more)), and the convergence angle of light in the layer having the refractive index “no” is set to θo, if the thickness trα is converted into the thickness tα based on the following equation, the thicknesses t1, t2, and t3 satisfy |t1−(t2+t3)|≧1 μm, and a difference between any two values of the thicknesses t1, t2, and t3 is set to 1 μm or more in any case.

tα=trα(tan(θrα)/tan(θo))

In the case where the range of the thickness tα of a layer having the refractive index “no” and whose spherical aberration amount falls in a predetermined allowable range is converted into a range of the thickness trα of a layer having the refractive index nrα, preferably, the thickness trα may be included in the range of the thickness trα after conversion.

In the case where the layer between the medium surface and the information recording surface or each layer between the information recording surfaces is constituted of plural material layers having refractive indexes different from each other, at first, the thicknesses of the material layers are calculated in terms of the standard refractive index. Specifically, the actual thickness of each material layer having the refractive index “nr” is converted into the thickness of each material layer having the standard refractive index “no”, based on a defocus amount, by multiplying the shape-wise thickness by the function value “f”. Then, the thicknesses of the material layers after conversion are integrated.

For instance, in the case where a cover layer having the shape-wise thickness tr1 has a first cover layer having the refractive index nr11 has the thickness tr11, a second cover layer having the refractive index nr12 has the thickness tr12, and the N-th cover layer having the refractive index nr1N has the thickness tr1N, converting the shape-wise thickness of the cover layer into the thickness t1 of the cover layer having the standard refractive index “no”, based on a defocus amount, yields a result: t1=Σtr1 k×f(nrk). In this equation, Σ represents an integration from 1 through N with respect to “k”.

In the case where an objective lens having a large numerical aperture (NA) is used, spherical aberration sharply changes depending on the thickness of a transparent substrate through which light is transmitted. If the spherical aberration is large, the sensitivity of a focus error signal, serving as an index to be used in focus control, may be different from the design sensitivity, or focus error signal deterioration such as a decrease in signal amplitude may occur.

In the case where focus control is started from a state that focus control is not performed, or stability in focus jumping is obtained, it is desirable to correct spherical aberration with respect to a targeted layer for focus control in advance. In view of this, it is desirable to set the thickness from the medium surface to an information recording layer, and the thickness of an intermediate layer in a predetermined range including a standard value.

The focus jumping operation is an operation of changing a focus position from a certain information recording surface to another information recording surface. The standard value or a predetermined range for a focus jumping operation should be defined, referring to the spherical aberration for the above reason. Accordingly, in the case where the refractive index is set to a value other than the standard value, the shape-wise thickness is changed depending on the refractive index.

In view of the above, for instance, the layer thickness of a multilayer optical disc is designed as follows. First, the refractive index of a material constituting a transparent substrate is defined. Next, the shape-wise thickness from the medium surface to an information recording surface, and the shape-wise thicknesses of intermediate layers are determined in accordance with the obtained refractive index, referring to the spherical aberration. Since it is impossible to set a production error to zero, the shape-wise thickness is determined including an error range. The shape-wise thickness from the medium surface to an information recording surface, and the shape-wise thicknesses of intermediate layers may be determined, using a numerical value table or a chart. The spherical aberration is proportional to the layer thickness. Accordingly, the shape-wise thickness from the medium surface to an information recording surface, and the shape-wise thicknesses of intermediate layers may be determined by calculating a conversion factor g(n) depending on a refractive index in accordance with a wavelength or a numerical aperture, and using the calculated conversion factor g(n).

For instance, blue light of a wavelength 405 nm is converged on an information recording surface through a substrate having a refractive index of 1.60 and a thickness of 0.1 mm. An objective lens having a numerical aperture of 0.85 converges blue light of a wavelength 405 nm without aberration. The thickness ts(n) (unit: mm) of a substrate which minimizes the aberration when the refractive index of the substrate is changed is calculated. As a result of the calculation, the conversion factor g(n) is set to: g(n)=ts(n)/0.1.

The shape-wise thickness of a cover layer can be obtained, based on the shape-wise thickness from the medium surface to an information recording surface, and the shape-wise thicknesses of intermediate layers, which have been calculated in the above-described manner. Then, these thicknesses are converted into thicknesses of the respective corresponding layers each having the standard refractive index “no”, referring to a defocus amount in the above-described manner. Then, judgment is made as to whether the back focus problem and the interlayer coherence can be avoided, whether the design range is proper, and whether the quality of a fabricated optical disc has passed, using the thicknesses of the respective corresponding layers after conversion.

The thickness from the medium surface to an information recording surface can be calculated based on the sum of the cover layer thickness and the intermediate layer thicknesses. In the case of a three-layer disc, the shape-wise thickness from the medium surface to the first information recording surface is set to tr1, the shape-wise thickness from the medium surface to the second information recording surface is set to (tr1+tr2), and the shape-wise thickness from the medium surface to the third information recording surface is set to (tr1+tr2+tr3).

In the case of a four-layer disc, the shape-wise thickness from the medium surface to the first information recording surface is set to tr1, the shape-wise thickness from the medium surface to the second information recording surface is set to (tr1+tr2), the shape-wise thickness from the medium surface to the third information recording surface is set to (tr1+tr2+tr3), and the shape-wise thickness from the medium surface to the fourth information recording surface is set to (tr1+tr2+tr3+tr4).

The optical recording medium in the embodiment enables to prevent light from forming an image on the backside of the surface of the optical recording medium, and suppress coherence between reflected light from the information recording surfaces to thereby improve the quality of a servo signal and a reproduction signal. Further, in the above arrangement, a guideline for producing the products can be clearly set by setting the guideline for designing the thickness of the optical recording medium depending on the refractive index in the above-described manner.

Next, an example of an optical information device which performs a focus jumping operation is described.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a schematic arrangement of an optical information device embodying the invention. Referring to FIG. 12, an optical information device 150 includes a driver 151, a turntable 152, an electric circuit 153, a damper 154, a motor 155, and an optical head device 201. The optical head device 201 in FIG. 12 has the same arrangement as the arrangement of the optical head device 201 shown in FIG. 1, and an optical recording medium 40 in FIG. 12 has the same arrangement as the arrangement of the optical recording medium 40 shown in FIG. 2.

The optical recording medium 40 is placed on the turntable 152, and is fixedly supported by the damper 154. The motor 155 rotates the turntable 152 to thereby rotate the optical recording medium 40. The driver 151 coarsely drives the optical head device 201 to a track on the optical recording medium 40 where intended information is recorded.

The optical head device 201 moves the focus position of laser light to be irradiated onto the optical recording medium from a certain information recording surface to another information recording surface to reproduce or record information with respect to the plural information recording surfaces.

The optical head device 201 transmits a focus error signal and a tracking error signal to the electric circuit 153 in correspondence to a positional relation with respect to the optical recording medium 40. The electric circuit 153 transmits a signal for finely moving the objective lens 56 to the optical head device 201 in accordance with the focus error signal and the tracking error signal. The optical head device 201 performs focus control and tracking control with respect to the optical recording medium 40, based on a signal from the electric circuit 153. The optical head device 201 reads out information from the optical recording medium 40, writes (records) information into the optical recording medium 40, or erases information from the optical recording medium 40.

The electric circuit 153 controls and drives the motor 155 and the optical head device 201, based on a signal to be obtained from the optical head device 201. The electric circuit 153 mainly controls the focus jumping sequence. Specifically, the electric circuit 153 controls the optical head device 201 in such a manner as to correct spherical aberration with respect to an information recording surface as a focus jumping destination, before shifting the focus position. A concrete spherical aberration correction method for the optical head device 201 has been described in the foregoing description.

The optical information device 150 in the embodiment is operable to correct spherical aberration with respect to an information recording surface as a focus jumping destination by shifting the collimator lens 53 with respect to the optical recording medium 40 before a focus jumping operation is performed, and thereafter shift the focus position. This enables to improve the quality of a focus error signal with respect to a targeted information recording surface to thereby stably perform a focus jumping operation.

The optical recording medium embodying the invention is not limited to a specific one of a read-only disc, a rewritable disc, and a recordable disc, but may be any of these discs.

The aforementioned embodiment mainly includes the features having the following arrangements.

An optical recording medium according to an aspect of the invention is an optical recording medium having a plurality of information recording surfaces. The optical recording medium includes: the first information recording surface closest to a medium surface of the optical recording medium where light is incident; the second information recording surface second closest to the medium surface; the third information recording surface third closest to the medium surface; the fourth information recording surface fourth closest to the medium surface; a cover layer having a refractive index nr1 and formed between the medium surface and the first information recording surface; a first intermediate layer having a refractive index nr2 and formed between the first information recording surface and the second information recording surface; a second intermediate layer having a refractive index nr3 and formed between the second information recording surface and the third information recording surface; and a third intermediate layer having a refractive index nr4 and formed between the third information recording surface and the fourth information recording surface, wherein in the case where shape-wise thicknesses tr1, tr2, tr3, and tr4 of the cover layer, the first intermediate layer, the second intermediate layer, and the third intermediate layer are respectively converted into thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 of the respective corresponding layers each having a predetermined refractive index “no”, a defocus amount with respect to a layer having a refractive index nrα and a thickness trα (satisfying: 1≦α≦n (where α is a positive integer and n is an integer of 4 or more)), and a defocus amount with respect to a layer having the refractive index “no” and a thickness tα (satisfying: 1≦α≦n (where α is a positive integer and n is an integer of 4 or more)) are equal to each other, and the thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 satisfy |t1−(t2+t3+t4)|≧1 μm, a difference between any two values of the thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 is set to 1 μm or more in any case, and |(t1+t2)−(t3+t4)|≧1 μm.

In the above arrangement, in the case where shape-wise thicknesses tr1, tr2, tr3, and tr4 of the cover layer, the first intermediate layer, the second intermediate layer, and the third intermediate layer are respectively converted into thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 of the respective corresponding layers each having a predetermined refractive index “no”, a defocus amount with respect to a layer having a refractive index nrα and a thickness trα (satisfying: 1≦α≦n (where α is a positive integer and n is an integer of 4 or more)), and a defocus amount with respect to a layer having the refractive index “no” and a thickness tα (satisfying: 1≦α≦n (where α is a positive integer and n is an integer of 4 or more)) are equal to each other, and the thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 satisfy |t1−(t2+t3+t4)|≧1 μm, a difference between any two values of the thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 is set to 1 μm or more in any case, and |(t1+t2)−(t3+t4)|≧1 μm.

Thus, the thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 obtained by converting the shape-wise thicknesses tr1, tr2, tr3, and tr4 of the cover layer, the first intermediate layer, the second intermediate layer, and the third intermediate layer satisfy |t1−(t2+t3+t4)|≧1 μm, a difference between any two values of the thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 is set to 1 μm or more in any case, and |(t1+t2)−(t3+t4)|≧1 μm. This enables to prevent light from forming an image on the backside of the surface of the optical recording medium, and suppress coherence between reflected light from the information recording surfaces to thereby improve the quality of a servo signal and a reproduction signal. Further, since the distance between the surface of the optical recording medium and the information recording surface closest to the surface of the optical recording medium can be set to a large value, deterioration of a reproduction signal in the case where there is a damage or a smear on the surface of the optical recording medium can be suppressed.

An optical recording medium according to another aspect of the invention is an optical recording medium having a plurality of information recording surfaces. The optical recording medium includes: the first information recording surface closest to a medium surface of the optical recording medium where light is incident; the second information recording surface second closest to the medium surface; the third information recording surface third closest to the medium surface; the fourth information recording surface fourth closest to the medium surface; a cover layer having a refractive index nr1 and formed between the medium surface and the first information recording surface; a first intermediate layer having a refractive index nr2 and formed between the first information recording surface and the second information recording surface; a second intermediate layer having a refractive index nr3 and formed between the second information recording surface and the third information recording surface; and a third intermediate layer having a refractive index nr4 and formed between the third information recording surface and the fourth information recording surface, wherein in the case where shape-wise thicknesses tr1, tr2, tr3, and tr4 of the cover layer, the first intermediate layer, the second intermediate layer, and the third intermediate layer are respectively converted into thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 of the respective corresponding layers each having a predetermined refractive index “no”, and in the case where a thickness of the layer having the refractive index nrα is set to trα (satisfying: 1≦α≦n (where α is a positive integer and n is an integer of 4 or more)), a convergence angle of light in the layer having the refractive index nrα is set to θrα (satisfying: 1≦α≦n (where α is a positive integer and n is an integer of 4 or more)), a thickness of the layer having the refractive index “no” is set to tα (satisfying: 1≦α≦n (where α is a positive integer and n is an integer of 4 or more)), and a convergence angle of light in the layer having the refractive index “no” is set to θo, if the thickness trα is converted into the thickness tα based on the following equation, tα=trα(·tan(θrα)/tan(θo)), the thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 satisfy |t1−(t2+t3+t4)|≧1 μm, a difference between any two values of the thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 is set to 1 μm or more in any case, and |(t1+t2)−(t3+t4)|≧1 μm.

In the above arrangement, in the case where shape-wise thicknesses tr1, tr2, tr3, and tr4 of the cover layer, the first intermediate layer, the second intermediate layer, and the third intermediate layer are respectively converted into thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 of the respective corresponding layers each having a predetermined refractive index “no”, and in the case where a thickness of the layer having the refractive index nrα is set to trα (satisfying: 1≦α≦n (where α is a positive integer and n is an integer of 4 or more)), a convergence angle of light in the layer having the refractive index nrα is set to θrα (satisfying: 1≦α≦n (where α is a positive integer and n is an integer of 4 or more)), a thickness of the layer having the refractive index “no” is set to tα (satisfying: 1≦α≦n (where α is a positive integer and n is an integer of 4 or more)), and a convergence angle of light in the layer having the refractive index “no” is set to θo, if the thickness trα is converted into the thickness tα based on the following equation, the thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 satisfy |t1−(t2+t3+t4)|≧1 μm, a difference between any two values of the thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 is set to 1 μm or more in any case, and |(t1+t2)−(t3+t4)|≧1 μm.

tα=trα·(tan(θrα)/tan(θo))

Thus, the thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 obtained by converting the shape-wise thicknesses tr1, tr2, tr3, and tr4 of the cover layer, the first intermediate layer, the second intermediate layer, and the third intermediate layer satisfy |t1−(t2+t3+t4)|≧1 μm, a difference between any two values of the thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 is set to 1 μm or more in any case, and |(t1+t2)−(t3+t4)|≧1 μm. This enables to prevent light from forming an image on the backside of the surface of the optical recording medium, and suppress coherence between reflected light from the information recording surfaces to thereby improve the quality of a servo signal and a reproduction signal. Further, since the distance between the surface of the optical recording medium and the information recording surface closest to the surface of the optical recording medium can be set to a large value, deterioration of a reproduction signal in the case where there is a damage or a smear on the surface of the optical recording medium can be suppressed.

In the optical recording medium, in the case where a range of the thickness tα of the layer having the refractive index “no” and whose spherical aberration amount falls in a predetermined allowable range is converted into a range of the thickness trα of the layer having the refractive index nrα, preferably, the thickness trα may be included in the range of the thickness trα after conversion.

In the above arrangement, in the case where a range of the thickness tα of the layer having the refractive index “no” and whose spherical aberration amount falls in a predetermined allowable range is converted into a range of the thickness trα of the layer having the refractive index nrα, the thickness trα is included in the range of the thickness trα after conversion. This enables to suppress spherical aberration with respect to the cover layer, the first intermediate layer, the second intermediate layer, and the third intermediate layer respectively having the thicknesses tr1, tr2, tr3, and tr4.

In the optical recording medium, preferably, the refractive index “no” may be set to 1.60. In this arrangement, the shape-wise thicknesses tr1, tr2, tr3, and tr4 of the cover layer, the first intermediate layer, the second intermediate layer, and the third intermediate layer can be respectively converted into the thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 of the respective corresponding layers each having the refractive index of 1.60.

In the optical recording medium, preferably, the thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 may each be set to 10 μm or more. In this arrangement, setting the thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 each to 10 μm or more enables to reduce an influence of crosstalk from an adjacent information recording surface to thereby reduce coherence between reflected light from the information recording surfaces.

An optical recording medium according to another aspect of the invention is an optical recording medium having a plurality of information recording surfaces. The optical recording medium includes: the first information recording surface closest to a medium surface of the optical recording medium where light is incident; the second information recording surface second closest to the medium surface; the third information recording surface third closest to the medium surface; a cover layer having a refractive index nr1 and formed between the medium surface and the first information recording surface; a first intermediate layer having a refractive index nr2 and formed between the first information recording surface and the second information recording surface; and a second intermediate layer having a refractive index nr3 and formed between the second information recording surface and the third information recording surface, wherein in the case where shape-wise thicknesses tr1, tr2, tr3, and tr4 of the cover layer, the first intermediate layer, and the second intermediate layer are respectively converted into thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 of the respective corresponding layers each having a predetermined refractive index “no”, a defocus amount with respect to a layer having a refractive index nrα and a thickness trα (satisfying: 1≦α≦n (where α is a positive integer and n is an integer of 3 or more)), and a defocus amount with respect to a layer having the refractive index “no” and a thickness tα (satisfying: 1≦α≦n (where α is a positive integer and n is an integer of 3 or more)) are equal to each other, and the thicknesses t1, t2, and t3 satisfy |t1−(t2+t3)|≧1 μm, and a difference between any two values of the thicknesses t1, t2, and t3 is set to 1 μm or more in any case.

In the above arrangement, in the case where shape-wise thicknesses tr1, tr2, tr3, and tr4 of the cover layer, the first intermediate layer, and the second intermediate layer are respectively converted into thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 of the respective corresponding layers each having a predetermined refractive index “no”, a defocus amount with respect to a layer having a refractive index nrα and a thickness trα (satisfying: 1≦α≦n (where α is a positive integer and n is an integer of 3 or more)), and a defocus amount with respect to a layer having the refractive index “no” and a thickness tα (satisfying: 1≦α≦n (where α is a positive integer and n is an integer of 3 or more)) are equal to each other, and the thicknesses t1, t2, and t3 satisfy |t1−(t2+t3)|≧1 μm, and a difference between any two values of the thicknesses t1, t2, and t3 is set to 1 μm or more in any case.

Thus, the thicknesses t1, t2, and t3 obtained by converting the shape-wise thicknesses tr1, tr2, and tr3 of the cover layer, the first intermediate layer, and the second intermediate layer satisfy |t1−(t2+t3)|≧1 μm, and a difference between any two values of the thicknesses t1, t2, and t3 is set to 1 μm or more in any case. This enables to prevent light from forming an image on the backside of the surface of the optical recording medium, and suppress coherence between reflected light from the information recording surfaces to thereby improve the quality of a servo signal and a reproduction signal. Further, since the distance between the surface of the optical recording medium and the information recording surface closest to the surface of the optical recording medium can be set to a large value, deterioration of a reproduction signal in the case where there is a damage or a smear on the surface of the optical recording medium can be suppressed.

An optical recording medium according to another aspect of the invention is an optical recording medium having a plurality of information recording surfaces. The optical recording medium includes: the first information recording surface closest to a medium surface of the optical recording medium where light is incident; the second information recording surface second closest to the medium surface; the third information recording surface third closest to the medium surface; a cover layer having a refractive index nr1 and formed between the medium surface and the first information recording surface; a first intermediate layer having a refractive index nr2 and formed between the first information recording surface and the second information recording surface; and a second intermediate layer having a refractive index nr3 and formed between the second information recording surface and the third information recording surface, wherein in the case where shape-wise thicknesses tr1, tr2, and tr3 of the cover layer, the first intermediate layer, and the second intermediate layer are respectively converted into thicknesses t1, t2, and t3 of the respective corresponding layers each having a predetermined refractive index “no”, and in the case where a thickness of the layer having the refractive index nrα is set to trα (satisfying: 1≦α≦n (where α is a positive integer and n is an integer of 3 or more)), a convergence angle of light in the layer having the refractive index nrα is set to θrα (satisfying: 1≦α≦n (where α is a positive integer and n is an integer of 3 or more)), a thickness of the layer having the refractive index “no” is set to tα (satisfying: 1≦α≦n (where α is a positive integer and n is an integer of 3 or more)), and a convergence angle of light in the layer having the refractive index “no” is set to θo, if the thickness trα is converted into the thickness tα based on the following equation, tα=trα·(tan(θrα)/tan(θo)), the thicknesses t1, t2, and t3 satisfy |t1−(t2+t3)|≧1 μm, and a difference between any two values of the thicknesses t1, t2, and t3 is set to 1 μm or more in any case.

In the above arrangement, in the case where shape-wise thicknesses tr1, tr2, and tr3 of the cover layer, the first intermediate layer, and the second intermediate layer are respectively converted into thicknesses t1, t2, and t3 of the respective corresponding layers each having a predetermined refractive index “no”, and in the case where a thickness of the layer having the refractive index nrα is set to trα (satisfying: 1≦α≦n (where α is a positive integer and n is an integer of 3 or more)), a convergence angle of light in the layer having the refractive index nrα is set to θrα (satisfying: 1≦α≦n (where α is a positive integer and n is an integer of 3 or more)), a thickness of the layer having the refractive index “no” is set to tα (satisfying: 1≦α≦n (where α is a positive integer and n is an integer of 3 or more)), and a convergence angle of light in the layer having the refractive index “no” is set to θo, if the thickness trα is converted into the thickness tα based on the following equation, the thicknesses t1, t2, and t3 satisfy |t1−(t2+t3)|≧1 μm, and a difference between any two values of the thicknesses t1, t2, and t3 is set to 1 μm or more in any case.

tα=trα·(tan(θrα)/tan(θo))

Thus, the thicknesses t1, t2, and t3 obtained by converting the shape-wise thicknesses tr1, tr2, and tr3 of the cover layer, the first intermediate layer, and the third intermediate layer satisfy |t1−(t2+t3)|≧1 μm, and a difference between any two values of the thicknesses t1, t2, and t3 is set to 1 μm or more in any case. This enables to prevent light from forming an image on the backside of the surface of the optical recording medium, and suppress coherence between reflected light from the information recording surfaces to thereby improve the quality of a servo signal and a reproduction signal. Further, since the distance between the surface of the optical recording medium and the information recording surface closest to the surface of the optical recording medium can be set to a large value, deterioration of a reproduction signal in the case where there is a damage or a smear on the surface of the optical recording medium can be suppressed.

In the optical recording medium, in the case where a range of the thickness tα of the layer having the refractive index “no” and whose spherical aberration amount falls in a predetermined allowable range is converted into a range of the thickness trα of the layer having the refractive index nrα, preferably, the thickness trα may be included in the range of the thickness trα after conversion.

In the above arrangement, in the case where a range of the thickness tα of the layer having the refractive index “no” and whose spherical aberration amount falls in a predetermined allowable range is converted into a range of the thickness trα of the layer having the refractive index nrα, the thickness trα is included in the range of the thickness trα after conversion. This enables to suppress spherical aberration with respect to the cover layer, the first intermediate layer, and the second intermediate layer respectively having the thicknesses tr1, tr2, and tr3.

In the optical recording medium, preferably, the refractive index “no” may be set to 1.60. In this arrangement, the shape-wise thicknesses tr1, tr2, and tr3 of the cover layer, the first intermediate layer, and the second intermediate layer can be respectively converted into the thicknesses t1, t2, and t3 of the respective corresponding layers each having the refractive index of 1.60.

In the optical recording medium, preferably, the thicknesses t1, t2, and t3 may each be set to 10 μm or more. In this arrangement, setting the thicknesses t1, t2, and t3 each to 10 μm or more enables to reduce an influence of crosstalk from an adjacent information recording surface to thereby reduce coherence between reflected light from the information recording surfaces.

An optical information device according to another aspect of the invention is an optical information device for reproducing or recording with respect to the optical recording medium having any one of the above arrangements. The optical information device includes an optical head device, and a motor which rotates the optical recording medium. The optical head device shifts a focus position of the laser light to be irradiated onto the optical recording medium from a certain information recording surface to another information recording surface out of the plurality of the information recording surfaces to reproduce or record information with respect to the plurality of the information recording surfaces. In this arrangement, the above optical recording medium can be used in the optical information device.

Preferably, the optical information device may further include an electric circuit which controls and drives the motor and the optical head device, based on a signal to be obtained from the optical head device, wherein the electric circuit controls the optical head device in such a manner as to correct a spherical aberration with respect to a targeted information recording surface out of the plurality of the information recording surfaces, before shifting the focus position.

According to the above arrangement, spherical aberration with respect to a targeted information recording surface can be corrected before the focus position is shifted.

The inventive multilayer optical disc (the inventive optical recording medium) and the inventive optical information device enable to maximally suppress an influence of reflected light from an information recording surface other than a targeted information recording surface at the time of reproducing from the targeted information recording surface, even if the refractive indexes of the cover layer and the intermediate layer are different from the standard value, to thereby reduce an influence to a servo signal and a reproduction signal to be used in an optical head device. Thus, the invention is useful to an optical recording medium for information recording or reproducing by irradiated light, and an optical information device which records or reproduces information with respect to the optical recording medium.

Thus, the invention provides an optical recording medium capable of securing a reproduction signal of good quality, having a large capacity, and having compatibility with an existing optical recording medium.

This application is based on U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 12/269,289 filed on Nov. 12, 2008, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/114,296 filed on Nov. 13, 2008, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

The embodiments or the examples described in the detailed description of the invention are provided to clarify the technical contents of the invention. The invention should not be construed to be limited to the embodiments or the examples. The invention may be modified in various ways as far as such modifications do not depart from the spirit and the scope of the invention hereinafter defined. 

1. An optical recording medium having a plurality of information recording surfaces, the optical recording medium comprising: the first information recording surface closest to a medium surface of the optical recording medium where light is incident; the second information recording surface second closest to the medium surface; the third information recording surface third closest to the medium surface; the fourth information recording surface fourth closest to the medium surface; a cover layer having a refractive index nr1 and formed between the medium surface and the first information recording surface; a first intermediate layer having a refractive index nr2 and formed between the first information recording surface and the second information recording surface; a second intermediate layer having a refractive index nr3 and formed between the second information recording surface and the third information recording surface; and a third intermediate layer having a refractive index nr4 and formed between the third information recording surface and the fourth information recording surface, wherein in the case where shape-wise thicknesses tr1, tr2, tr3, and tr4 of the cover layer, the first intermediate layer, the second intermediate layer, and the third intermediate layer are respectively converted into thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 of the respective corresponding layers each having a predetermined refractive index “no”, a defocus amount with respect to a layer having a refractive index nrα and a thickness trα (satisfying: 1≦α≦n (where α is a positive integer and n is an integer of 4 or more)), and a defocus amount with respect to a layer having the refractive index “no” and a thickness tα (satisfying: 1≦α≦n (where α is a positive integer and n is an integer of 4 or more)) are equal to each other, and the thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 satisfy |t1−(t2+t3+t4)|≧1 μm, a difference between any two values of the thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 is set to 1 μm or more in any case, and |(t1+t2)−(t3+t4)|≧1 μm.
 2. An optical recording medium having a plurality of information recording surfaces, the optical recording medium comprising: the first information recording surface closest to a medium surface of the optical recording medium where light is incident; the second information recording surface second closest to the medium surface; the third information recording surface third closest to the medium surface; the fourth information recording surface fourth closest to the medium surface; a cover layer having a refractive index nr1 and formed between the medium surface and the first information recording surface; a first intermediate layer having a refractive index nr2 and formed between the first information recording surface and the second information recording surface; a second intermediate layer having a refractive index nr3 and formed between the second information recording surface and the third information recording surface; and a third intermediate layer having a refractive index nr4 and formed between the third information recording surface and the fourth information recording surface, wherein in the case where shape-wise thicknesses tr1, tr2, tr3, and tr4 of the cover layer, the first intermediate layer, the second intermediate layer, and the third intermediate layer are respectively converted into thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 of the respective corresponding layers each having a predetermined refractive index “no”, and in the case where a thickness of the layer having the refractive index nrα is set to trα (satisfying: 1≦α≦n (where α is a positive integer and n is an integer of 4 or more)), a convergence angle of light in the layer having the refractive index nrα is set to θrα (satisfying: 1≦α≦n (where α is a positive integer and n is an integer of 4 or more)), a thickness of the layer having the refractive index “no” is set to tα (satisfying: 1≦α≦n (where α is a positive integer and n is an integer of 4 or more)), and a convergence angle of light in the layer having the refractive index “no” is set to θo, if the thickness trα is converted into the thickness tα based on the following equation, tα=trα·tan(θrα)/tan(θo)), the thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 satisfy |t1−(t2+t3+t4)|≧1 μm, a difference between any two values of the thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 is set to 1 μm or more in any case, and |(t1+t2)−(t3+t4)|≧1 μm.
 3. The optical recording medium according to claim 1, wherein in the case where a range of the thickness tα of the layer having the refractive index “no” and whose spherical aberration amount falls in a predetermined allowable range is converted into a range of the thickness trα of the layer having the refractive index nrα, the thickness trα is included in the range of the thickness trα after conversion.
 4. The optical recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the refractive index “no” is set to 1.60.
 5. The optical recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 are each set to 10 μm or more.
 6. An optical recording medium having a plurality of information recording surfaces, the optical recording medium comprising: the first information recording surface closest to a medium surface of the optical recording medium where light is incident; the second information recording surface second closest to the medium surface; the third information recording surface third closest to the medium surface; a cover layer having a refractive index nr1 and formed between the medium surface and the first information recording surface; a first intermediate layer having a refractive index nr2 and formed between the first information recording surface and the second information recording surface; and a second intermediate layer having a refractive index nrα and formed between the second information recording surface and the third information recording surface, wherein in the case where shape-wise thicknesses tr1, tr2, tr3, and tr4 of the cover layer, the first intermediate layer, and the second intermediate layer are respectively converted into thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 of the respective corresponding layers each having a predetermined refractive index “no”, a defocus amount with respect to a layer having a refractive index nrα and a thickness trα (satisfying: 1≦α≦n (where α is a positive integer and n is an integer of 3 or more)), and a defocus amount with respect to a layer having the refractive index “no” and a thickness tα (satisfying: 1≦α≦n (where α is a positive integer and n is an integer of 3 or more)) are equal to each other, and the thicknesses t1, t2, and t3 satisfy |t1−(t2+t3)|≧1 μm, and a difference between any two values of the thicknesses t1, t2, and t3 is set to 1 μm or more in any case.
 7. An optical recording medium having a plurality of information recording surfaces, the optical recording medium comprising: the first information recording surface closest to a medium surface of the optical recording medium where light is incident; the second information recording surface second closest to the medium surface; the third information recording surface third closest to the medium surface; a cover layer having a refractive index nr1 and formed between the medium surface and the first information recording surface; a first intermediate layer having a refractive index nr2 and formed between the first information recording surface and the second information recording surface; and a second intermediate layer having a refractive index nr3 and formed between the second information recording surface and the third information recording surface, wherein in the case where shape-wise thicknesses tr1, tr2, and tr3 of the cover layer, the first intermediate layer, and the second intermediate layer are respectively converted into thicknesses t1, t2, and t3 of the respective corresponding layers each having a predetermined refractive index “no”, and in the case where a thickness of the layer having the refractive index nrα is set to trα (satisfying: 1≦α≦n (where α is a positive integer and n is an integer of 3 or more)), a convergence angle of light in the layer having the refractive index nrα is set to θrα (satisfying: 1≦α≦n (where α is a positive integer and n is an integer of 3 or more)), a thickness of the layer having the refractive index “no” is set to tα (satisfying: 1≦α≦n (where α is a positive integer and n is an integer of 3 or more)), and a convergence angle of light in the layer having the refractive index “no” is set to θo, if the thickness trα is converted into the thickness tα based on the following equation, tα=trα·(tan(θrα)/tan(θo)), the thicknesses t1, t2, and t3 satisfy |t1−(t2+t3)|≧1 μm, and a difference between any two values of the thicknesses t1, t2, and t3 is set to 1 μm or more in any case.
 8. The optical recording medium according to claim 6, wherein in the case where a range of the thickness tα of the layer having the refractive index “no” and whose spherical aberration amount falls in a predetermined allowable range is converted into a range of the thickness trα of the layer having the refractive index nrα, the thickness trα is included in the range of the thickness trα after conversion.
 9. The optical recording medium according to claim 6, wherein the refractive index “no” is set to 1.60.
 10. The optical recording medium according to claim 6, wherein the thicknesses t1, t2, and t3 are each set to 10 μm or more.
 11. An optical information device for reproducing or recording with respect to the optical recording medium of claim 1, the optical information device comprising: an optical head device; and a motor which rotates the optical recording medium, wherein the optical head device shifts a focus position of the laser light to be irradiated onto the optical recording medium from a certain information recording surface to another information recording surface out of the plurality of the information recording surfaces to reproduce or record information with respect to the plurality of the information recording surfaces.
 12. The optical information device according to claim 11, further comprising: an electric circuit which controls and drives the motor and the optical head device, based on a signal to be obtained from the optical head device, wherein the electric circuit controls the optical head device in such a manner as to correct a spherical aberration with respect to a targeted information recording surface out of the plurality of the information recording surfaces, before shifting the focus position.
 13. An optical information device for reproducing or recording with respect to the optical recording medium of claim 6, the optical information device comprising: an optical head device; and a motor which rotates the optical recording medium, wherein the optical head device shifts a focus position of the laser light to be irradiated onto the optical recording medium from a certain information recording surface to another information recording surface out of the plurality of the information recording surfaces to reproduce or record information with respect to the plurality of the information recording surfaces.
 14. The optical information device according to claim 13, further comprising: an electric circuit which controls and drives the motor and the optical head device, based on a signal to be obtained from the optical head device, wherein the electric circuit controls the optical head device in such a manner as to correct a spherical aberration with respect to a targeted information recording surface out of the plurality of the information recording surfaces, before shifting the focus position. 